then checked himself.

"It's ten miles' sail from here home, and it would be twenty round by
the mountain-road. We always go by boat."

"By boat? In this boat?" faltered the visitor.

"Yes. She skims along like a bird."

"Then--I couldn't--walk?"

"Walk? No. We'll soon run you home. Sorry it was so rough. But
there's a lovely wind now. Come aft here, and we'll hoist the sail.
That's right, Scood. Now there's room to move."

"Could--could you call back the steamer?" said the stranger hoarsely.

"Call her back? No; she's a mile away nearly. Look!"

The visitor gave a despairing stare at the steamer, and the wake of foam
she had left behind.

"You will be all right directly," said Kenneth, suppressing his mirth.
"You're not used to the sea?"

"No."

"We are. There, give me your hand. You sit there aft and hold the
tiller, while I help Scood run up the sails."

"Thank you, I'm much obliged. But if you could set me ashore."

"It's three miles away," said Kenneth, glancing at the mainland.

"No, no; I mean there."

"There? That's only a rocky island with a few sheep on it. And there's
such a wild race there, it's dangerous at this time of the tide."

"Are they savages?"

"Savages?"

"Yes; the wild race."

"Poof!"

"Be quiet, Scood, or I'll chuck you overboard. What are you laughing
at? I mean race of the tide. Look, you can see the whirlpools. It's
the Atlantic rushing in among the rocks. Now then, come along."

The visitor would not rise to his feet, but crept over to the after part
of the boat, where he crouched more than sat, starting violently as the
light craft swayed with the movements of its occupants, and began to
dance as well with the rising sea.

"I'm afraid you think I'm a terrible coward."

"That's just what I do think," said Kenneth to himself; but he turned
round with a look of good-humoured contempt. "Oh no," he said aloud;
"you'll soon get used to it. Now, Scood, heave ahoy. Look here, we
can't help it. If you laugh out at him, I'll smash you."

"But look at him," whispered Scood.

"I daren't, Scood. Heave ahoy!"

"Take care! Mind!" cried the visitor in agony.

"What's the matter?"

"I--I thought--Pray don't do that!"

Kenneth could not refrain from joining in Scood's mirth, but he checked
himself directly, and gave the lad a punch in the ribs, as he hauled at
the mainsail.

"You'll have the boat over!" cried the shivering guest, white now wi